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Sunday, March 16th, 2008
Cash problems may derail youth league By Martin Yee
KUCHING: Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) appears stuck in a dilemma on two fronts.
While its Sarawak TM Super League team are suffering from a lack of talents, its youth development committee is facing a shortage of funds to organise the inaugural Under-16 league scheduled for April.
The committee needs about RM50,000, including about RM9,000 to pay the referees, but FAS, with financial woes of its own, is hardly in the position to help the organisers.
As FAS, given its shrunken coffers, will be concentrating on the Super League, the development committee, entrusted with building up a base of talents for the future, is left in a lurch.
“We cannot cancel the league just because we have no money. To do so will be a big blow to football development in the State. The future of the game here depends on efforts to spot and develop talents among the schools.
“We hope some form of help will be forthcoming soon otherwise we may find ourselves in a lose-lose situation. On one hand, the Sarawak senior team are bereft of quality players while on the other, the committee is unable to carry out development due to lack of funds,” said Daud Dato Aba, head of the development committee.
However, he is still hopeful FAS will extend some financial help to the organisers, saying the loans can be ‘in bits and pieces’ and not necessarily the full amount.
Daud said what was special about this youth league was that for the first time, an elaborate development programme, involving 10 schools, had been drawn up.
“These schools are chosen because they all have their own fields and we can play home and away over a longer period.
“Footballers need 20 to 25 games to sustain their development and this league is a standard one that provides for sustained competition.”
He said what was also interesting about the league was that there would be no draws as penalty shoot-outs would be used to decide the outright winner.
Penalty kicks were useful in sharpening shooting accuracy under pressure and helping build self-confidence and a winning mentality, he added.
“Moreover, matches will be played in three sessions with two half-times instead of the normal two halves and one break. This will allow the coaches to rectify mistakes and promote good football among the young players.”
Daud said FAM technical director Robert Alberts would also conduct a conditioning and fitness course for school coaches involved in the league to ensure all coaches in Malaysia have a uniform programme to build up young players.
The committee has also asked Sarawak coach Kunju Jamaludeen to help draw up the weekly training schedules for the coaches to standardise the development programme.
Meanwhile, the State U-19 youth team, under FAS’ youth development committee, played three matches in the national U-19 league – drawing 1-1 at home against Perak, winning 3-1 away to Kuala Muda Naza and losing 1-5 to Kedah.
They will entertain Penang at Sarawak Stadium today at 4.15pm.